Reuters reported that Mr Moise Katumbi the powerful governor of Congo's copper producing Katanga province has back tracked on a pledge to quit politics, saying he will stand in provincial elections.

Mr Katumbi is seen by many major mining firms as an ally against the central government in Kinshasa often blamed for contractual uncertainty and predacious taxation efforts.

As owner of one of Africa's top football clubs and having delivered relative progress in his five years in charge, he is genuinely popular in the southeastern province, a rare feat in the vast central African nation.

Mr Katumbi said that he had gone back on plans to stand down and return to his business interests after a petition calling on him to stay on was signed by 1.6 million people. So in the end I said, no, I don't have to be greedy, it's better I come back as deputy at the provincial level.”

Congo's governors are elected by and from members of the provincial parliament. This vote is due in the H1 of next year after presidential and national parliamentary polls which are due on November 28th 2011.

Mr Katumbi refused to rule out running for governor again but he said it was out of his hands and he thought it would be best for the province if power was rotated. To try to change the leaders is good you don't have to stay for a long time in power. It's not really my decision.

He is a member of President Mr Joseph Kabila's PPRD party and has pledged to support Kabila's re election. He is from the south of the province while many of the core supporters around Kabila are from the north.

Despite Mr Katumbi citing business interests and fatigue with public life as being his reasons for seeking to quit, many suspect he was coming under pressure from those around the president who feared he was becoming too popular and powerful in Katanga, also Kabila's home province.

(Sourced from Reuters)